The association between health workforce availability and HIV-program outcomes in Côte d’Ivoire

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the distribution of HIV-program staff and the extent to which their availability influences HIV programmatic and patient outcomes. METHODS: The study was a facility level cross-sectional survey. Data from October 2018 to September 2019 were abstracted from HIV program reports conducted in 18 districts of Côte d’Ivoire. The distribution of staff in clinical, laboratory, pharmacy, management, lay, and support cadres were described across high and low antiretroviral therapy (ART) volume facilities. Non-parametric regression was used to estimate the effects of cadre categories on the number of new HIV cases identified, the number of cases initiated on ART, and the proportion of patients achieving viral load suppression. RESULTS: Data from 49,871 patients treated at 216 health facilities were included. Low ART volume facilities had a median of 8.1 staff-per-100 ART patients, significantly higher than the 4.4 staff-per-100 ART patients at high-ART volume facilities. One additional laboratory staff member was associated with 4.30 (IQR: 2.00–7.48, p < 0.001) more HIV cases identified and 3.81 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.44–6.94, p < 0.001) additional cases initiated on ART. Similarly, one additional lay worker was associated with 2.33 (IQR: 1.00–3.43, p < 0.001) new cases identified and 2.24 (IQR: 1.00–3.31, p < 0.001) new cases initiated on ART. No cadres were associated with viral suppression. CONCLUSIONS: HCWs in the laboratory and lay cadre categories were associated with an increase in HIV-positive case identification and initiation on ART. Our findings suggest that allocation of HCWs across health facilities should take into consideration the ART patient volume. Overall, increasing investment in health workforce is critical to achieve national HIV goals and reaching HIV epidemic control. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12960-022-00715-2.